Sunday, June 08, 2008

To wear or not to wear the Songkok?

Is the DAP anti-Songkok now? According to The Star, someone people in the DAP's central executive committee want the party's assemblymen in Johor NOT to wear the Songkok at the opening of the state's legislative assembly on June 19. The Sultan of Johor is expected to be there.If the news is true, it's strange for the DAP to want to do that. It's mischievous, even, especially given the Johor Sultan's passion for the songkok .

Sure, the songkok is a Malay headgear. It is also a Malaysian headgear. No?

121 comments:

These stupid DAP idiots should wake up. Wearing songkoks doesnt make anyone less Chinese. Lim Kit Siang, tell your stupid DAP members to wake up to the reality of a new Malaysia. This is a new Malaysia, not the chauvinistic Malaysia in which DAP is cocooned. DAP bodoh.

Anonymous,If there is a dress code in the state assembly and it includes songkok, than it is fine to wear it. It has no religious implications, just a head gear. No one should be against wearing the songkok. I think the DAP should not be trivial about it.Loudmouth

Totally agree. To wear or not to wear the songkok. Why they want make such a big issue? The main issue that they should be highlighting now is the fuel prices which affect all of us. My next opinion is directed to the original blogger of this article and not anyone, not our govt, not our beloved Agung or Sultan. By wearing a songkok or follow other protocol doesn't mean that one is clean or isn't a racist. I think my main question is on the human rights issue, "Kenapa kita nak paksa orang disongkokan untuk menunjukkan kita ni orang Malaysia?"

I beg to differ that the songkok is a Malaysian headgear. Not until we accept that the headgears of all communities, Chinese, Indian, Kadazan, Iban, Bidayuh, Sikh etc are Malaysian headgears.

Remember the furore our racist ex-PM and his ilk caused when Ku Li donned a headgear with a cross-like thing on it some twenty years ago? Believe it was a Kadazan headgear. I can remember all the stupid racial and religious innuendos our racist ex-PM and his machais made against Ku Li.

And to suggest that assemblymen wear the songkok because the sultan has a passion for songkoks is just not on. What if the sultan has a passion for mini-skirts? Should the assemblywomen show up in mini-skirts? We should learn how to respect wishes of the assemblymen not to wear the songkok.

Then again, I must say I am not in any way anti-songkok. I would have been happy to wear one. It would be a great day for Malaysia if the assemblymen choose to wear a songkok on their own free will to the Johor state assembly opening.

And when assemblymen, say, in Sabah of all races show up in the finest Kadazan or other Sabahan headgear for the opening of the Sabah state assembly without raising any eyebrows, then we have truly made progress.

Until then, we seem to have proven yet again that we care more for form than substance.

Is it really true that the DAP reps do not want to use songkok especially when in attendance with the Head of state especially where the sulatn or Agong are in attendance. I wonder if its true that DAP reps have said this or its the fantasies of the local media to sensationalise issues to put flavour in them. If its true SONGKOK aeems to be the issue then lets remind DAP that songkok has no bearing to religion.You know in INDIA everyone irrespective of releigion uses that headgear. If thats difficult to do then DAP be ready to make an exit in the next GE. Afterwhich you wouldnt have to force yourselves to mind all these except to MIND YOUR OWN BUISNESS. Rafiqi,

Long time ago..a group of Jayees were in HongKong...for an International Convention...consisting of all Malaysian Chinese.We are proud Malaysians and are patriotics...representing out country..with pride. We sang .......only folks songs...like..."rasa sayang"...and few more....to identify ourselves .....as Malaysians.!!Songkok was recommended and we decided...it was representing a religion and one race...so we decided not to wear that.If DAP have the same conclusions...it is their rights. After all..if we want to talk head gears....then..there are so many head gears from thousand of years traditions by great Malaysians roots...to be proud of.And DAP have the support of Malaysians. Who are these people....teaching DAP how to be true Malaysians? Lets not make an issue from nothing....insignificant......to discrupt unity.Unity....must not be forced to do this or that by Malaysians Muslims....if they are totally sincere in unity. Majority Muslims are very open minded...sensible and logical!!It is UMNO and PAS continueous race and religion....dirty politics...dominating it for 50 years successfully.....that is now.. proven out-dated ...and being voted out in 5 States...plus ONE!! Malaysians wants...truthful....productive...non corrupted ministers..and stop wasting time...talking insignificant issues..blown up..to become so important..which is not really so.It reminds me...that one must wear the special hat to attend a Jewish wedding in the Synagogue!The Jews maybe a great race....but their religious traditions sucks....and majority modern Jews do not wear the head gears too.Until and unless....Malaysians are all united as one....don't give all sorts of stupid terms and conditions to be united..which infact is..what..UMNO loves to do...to divide and rule...including their own race. UMNO and BN are clear racialists parties...so don't they try to teach other Malaysians ..how to unite.Bottom like.. a non corrupted government and country...is much much more important than all these issues....purposely brought out...again...to divert the attention...on the main issues..the terrible oil prices. Whether the ministers wish to wear a saree...cheongsam...or..baju melayu...it does not matter...as long as they are respecting the Royalties sincerely. What matters most...are the issues facing us ..right now..how to make sure..poor Malaysians do not suffer..and here..we are talking how important..one head gear is??

Wearing the songkok should be done with complete dress code of baju Melayu, sarong and samping. The alternative is to wear a suit with tie and without any headgear like what they do in Dewan Rakyat. I don't understand why there should be any ruling in Johor that ADUNs in suit with tie need to put on the songkok. Is wearing suit without songkok being disrespectful? In that case would you say that MPs are also being disrespectiful.

Recently, Rachel Ray, a celebrity chef was criticized by a commentator for appearing in a Dunkin’ Donut advertisement wearing a black and white scarf. The commentator wrote in her column that the scarf looked like a keffiyeh, which according to the critic, “was a symbolic support of Muslim extremism and terrorism”. She went on to say that “the keffiyeh has come to symbolize murderous Palestinian jihad popularized by Yasser Arafat who had worn the scarf, a regular adornment of terrorists appearing in beheading and hostage-taking videos."

Go to - 'meiyenn.blogspot.com' for rest of "limbo rockin' with the songkok."

Oh, For God's Sake, Rocky!Could U use some of yr frame to kick certain persons in their "proverbial butts" - Its a Malay Head Gear, Its a Chinese underwear, Its an Indian....!Its Ceremonial! End of Story!Then all DAPians stop using Batik!And stop using Coats, Ties & Trousers! And stop using shoes! Use what your ancestors used!Please, do not irritate the Rakayaat! We put u in Office, We can take U out! Grow Up , all of U!

Bru, u deserve a pat on the bum for kali's tan sriship expose. He was on that list i guess but due to the spy-link claim and his contribution to destroying and ruining umno, the king i guess decided not to award him the TS. BTW, all Umno members must be made aware of Kali's DKK brother and s'pore operative Brendan Pariah has been tasked with churning out articles calling for removal of ministers who are against, Pak "FlipFlop" Lah, KHairy, Kamaluddin Dolah, Kali. Dey! Kali n Brendan, the Malays are watching and spying on your movements. Najib/Muhyiddin, make sure these TRAITORS or PENGHIANAT and their sponsors are investigated and incarcerated immediately Okay!

in indonesian wearing a songkok or a 'pici' does not indicate a person is a moslem as it has turned into a national headgear. i recall sometime ago when i was there attending a church service there were some who were wearing songkok and receiving communion during the mass service. i think DAP Johor should not get carried away with it since it has been all this while fighting an equal Malaysia for ALL MALAYSIANS - so be a sport and cut the crap !

DAP wants to stretch their luck knowing full well that the idiots representing them will be strongly dealt with by the Sultan so that they can make an issue out of it. Let's see if they dare. There is a limit to flirting with the powers and influence of the Sultan of Johor. If it is provoked, then the people of Johor and the govt will stand behind His Highness.

I don't thing they'd dare. Let's see if the DAP has the stomach or is just full of mouth.

"....especially given the Johor Sultan's passion for the songkok ...."

I think the reason why the Johore sultans like to wear the songkok is because their songkoks were actually the ones worn by the former Johore Military Force (JMF) who wore them as part of their formal military attire. Johore had their own private "army" if you remember and the sultans' passion for military uniforms resulted in them being seen in uniforms in one form or other, they being the C-I-C of their "army".

Even today you see the Johore royalty in some form of military uniform or other with a western style sword by the side. Johore used to be the most westernised Malay state among all the Malay states and it had an English Sultanah even.

But coming to wearing the songkok at state functions etc, why can't a decent formal suit be acceptable? Or formal traditional attire be it Chinese, Indian, Kadazan, Iban etc to reflect our diversity which we always boast of?

Our former PM likes his Nehru suits to reflect his heritage so what's wrong with it? I haven't see him wearing songkoks for a long, long time.

I note that the Catholic bishop and the Evangelical Christian head have both been awarded Tan Sriship by the King last weekend. Were they required to wear the "traditional" and "cultural" songkok when they received their awards? Did they?

The rulers are rulers of all races and religions i.e. for all. I don't want to go into politics but I think so long as people dress and behave decently and formally as befitting the occasion, it should be OK.

Lets not make this into a big issue when it should not.

P/s a friend of mine said the songkok is not Malay or Muslim but has its roots and origins in Hinduism and Buddhism which came to this part of the world a couple of thousand years ago before the advent of Islam.

I voted Opposition and dreamed of change, after voting BN for past 4 elections. I swear I'll vote BN again for PRU13 if DAP asses refused to wear songkok. It's becoming plain to see that they are anti-Malay and everything associated with it. It's not corruption, bad governance etc that they hated. It's everything that is Malay.

This is just so typical of these ungreatfuls. They want to try out whether the 'lembik's in UMNO and PKR would say anything... and believe me, those pondans wont say a thing and DAP will move on to another agendas in belittling those dumb Malays. But little does DAP know that the silent macho Malays are watching them closely and critically.

There are two ways to get people wear songkok. One is educating them about the meaning of songkok, make them feel proud of having it. Address all questions raised by the people who refused to wear. Two is using force and rules, like forcing people to wear helmet. Today you still see many didn't wear helmet especially in the kampung area. Is it the failure of education?

Somehow in the Chinese culture, whatever put on top of the head must be something grant and symbolic. Like the crown of the kings. It shows the power over others, or above of others, so to be respected. Nobody wear something that make them look like inferior and feel inferior. Try to imagine yourself to wear something that you feel like insulting yourself, like holding a board in front and behind you with the word "I am a thief" on the street.

I am not saying wearing songkok is like holding the board. Please do not relate to that.

May be some suggestions to make songkok an acceptable culture.

1. Put that in the school text book from the primary education so that kids learn the culture of others, especially those culture that other races MUST not feel resent about. And it has to be done both ways. Otherwise the parents may re-educate the kids of the hidden agenda!

2. Make all that has Datuk or Tan Sri title above to wear songkok as part of their attire and ranking. So all races wearing songkok showing in the public eye, it will become common. It is showing by example.

3. Make more occasion for PM, DPM and all very high ranking officer to wear songkok in every events. It is quite easy to carry songkok right?

4. Perhaps allow different songkok coding, color or anything, unless it is a rule that it must be black with certain shape. You know, if there is no restriction on how the songkok looks like, there can be a business for fashion!

since when did the songkok become "Malaysian headgear?" it is very sinister how the term "Malaysian" is being abused by certain quarters to impose their ethnic and cultural indentity and practices on to other races.

this is not what our fore-fathers practiced or stood for in the drafting out of the constitution. it is a threat against the spirit of mutual respect and protection of the respective non-Malay/non-muslim cultures and identities in Malaysia.

would it be respectful to expect Malays to wear the "potu" or hold jossticks to prove that they practise "muhibbah" and racial integration. as the saying goes, "do not do unto others, what you would not have wish to be done to you".

many non-Malays have been intimidated in this songkok wearing saga. it has been forced on to non-Malay atheletes, policemen and women and at various other so-called official functions.

no one can deny that the songkok is intrinsic to the Malay culture and community, and in this country the Malay race is intrinsically linked politically as well as religously to Islam.

because of such realities,it is totally inappropriate to insist that non-Malays be indentified with such a culture-sensitive icon of Malays or to mislead non-Malaysians in Malaysia or abroad to assume that all Malaysians are intrinsically Malays or ethnically Malays or muslims.

such misconceptions are already causing unecessary conflict and misunderstanding in the area of religous conversion and social relations. it would be grossly insensitive to impose such regulations on non-Malays.

in view of such subtle attempts of "cultural-revisionism" I would strongly urge all authorities concerned to put an end to such practices. it should cease immediately at all official and cultural levels.

if at all such cultural and religous senstive icon is to be "shared" among Malaysians, it should be practised collectively whereby each ethnic group participate in it by appropriating each others' cultural and religous icon at official functions.

this would mean that Malays should wear cultural-religous icons of non-malay- non-muslim races and vive-versa. the cultural-religous identity of each races should be give equal prominence at all so-called official functions.

the Dap is right in rejecting such cultural revisionist practices among us in the political arena. let us not be a nation that condones the hijacking of non-Malay cultures in the name of nationalism.

true nationalism is a reflection of freedom to practice one's culture and religon without any form of encroachment and displacement. let not the ugly head of racial or religous superiority be allowed to reign over a multi-cultural, multi-religous Malaysia.

nstman, as usual you are firing from your unwashed anus, not making any sense of the shit you churn out day in day out.The issue here is very simple, the songkok is not a Malaysian headgear, its a Malay headgear with Indian origins, Nehru wore it all the time.Actually this songkok thing is not an issue, but my question is, will the Malays put on an Indian, chinese, Iban etc headgear without making a big deal of it?

If you look at the old photograph of 31st August 1957 at the Merdeka Stadium, when the Tunku proclaimed Malayan Independence, you will note that the Tunku and all the Malay Rulers did NOT wear the songkok at this solemn occasion but Malay attires of their respective states. The British representatives wore their formal attires depending on their ranks. See

http://www.othermalaysia.org/gallery2/main.php?g2_itemId=340

Why are we now making this wearing or not wearing a songkok a big issue? Does somebody have a hidden agenda there somewhere? And why are some people stoking the fire?

I think the issue and concern being raised here is that there is no freedom of choice. On many occasions, attendees are REQUIRED (i.e. no choice) to wear the songkok. All other formal attires are NOT sufficient or acceptable. That's the crux of the issue - there is simply NO CHOICE but to comply. And some don't like it - no democracy.

I remember in the early days after Malaysia Day, the native representatives of Sarawak used to attend their State Assembly sittings in their traditional attires. No problem then to them or to those who came dressed in other formal attires.

And in the various international media reports on China's Peoples Congress (Parliament) sittings, minority groups (including Muslim minorities) attended in their traditional attires. No problem. See

http://english.peopledaily.com.cn/200703/16/eng20070316_358258.html

So where have we come to since independence? Why is there an issue? Why do some people always see this as an affront to them and their culture and get all riled up?

I for one would wholeheartedly welcome anyone who comes to my function in any proper and appropriate attire and behave themselves properly.

Why should they wear songkok? they can't even speak Malay properly. Despite living in this country for more than 100 years they speak Malay less fluently than a Bangla who come here less than a year. Just look at Lim Keng Yaik, Samy Vellu and Lim Kit Siang. They totally butchered the language with their pronunciation and misplaced 'imbuhan'. Imagine an American of Chinese descent in Congress speaking like this. It just not happening but in Malaysia we give them Tun-ship. We should strip them of their citizenship.. this ungrateful people.

I suggest that Chinese members should wear their baggy trousers, Mao Tse Tung tops and pigtails. Indian members should put on their dhotis and no shoes.Then all is fair and square!And in the meantime life gets harderfor the rakyat while the DAP churns out various nagging policies What a load of bitchy ideas. (Apologies to all female dogs for using that word) By Catwoman

What this tells me is that you yourself are NOT SURE if the Star report is true or not. I suggest that your check this up with DAP before even posting this, and I'm sure it's not difficult for you to do this.

If it is true, then I feel DAP's view on this is not beneficial nor wise. But what if the report is NOT true? Can we really believe the msm like the Star?

The songkok is a Muslim headgear. Look it up online, see the history books, speak with kids who grew up attending Kebangsaan schools. All our parents and grandparents know that the songkok is a Muslim headgear.

So if you are not a Muslim, like most of the DAP politicians are, why should you wear the songkok?

I grew up studying in Kebangsaan schools, one of the few Chinese to do so in an age where Malaysian education is becoming increasingly polarized. I am very proud of the racial harmony we had, and growing up, I definitely remember the songkok being a Muslim headgear. My Malay friends would only wear the songkok whenever they go for Muslim prayers at the school surau.

Now unless there is some major effort at revisionism, and there is a major effort by the government to suddenly gazette and call the songkok a non-religious headgear, I think you should respect the rights of the non-Muslims to not wear religious attire that are not from their religion. This right should be respected in the same vein as the rights of non-Muslims to pursue their individual choice of a religion.

As a malaysian chinese, i would love to wear a songkok if there was an occasion for me to wear one. I would view it as assimilation to the malaysian identity, would not have connected same to religion afterall, during my schooldays the chinese girls were wearing baju kurung to school and there weren't in Islam or anything like that. My advise to those politicians, try to think malaysians, be proud being a malaysian, we make what we believe in as our malaysian identity, we don't have to oppose everything. Certain items should be viewed as "so what if i wear/ i do " it doesn't make you any different thereafter.

songkok is not a Muslim headgear. Malay wear songkok during non-religious occasion like wedding and silat ceremony too. Every Friday prayer try to observe some Malays are wearing songkok, some are wearing white skull caps, some are wearing serban/turban and some not wearing any headgear at all. If it is religious headgear why didn't anyone wear the same headgear? and if you never been in a mosque during prayers it is perfectly alright not to wear anything on your head if you got short hair. It's for practical purposes.

I say: I may disagree with DAP stand on the songkok,BUT your blardy line "pergi balik negeri Cina la..." is F**KINGLY NOT AP, there is NO NEED FOR PEOPLE TO TELL OTHER MALAYSIANS TO balik negeri Cina for Malaysia is HoME, get it, you f**king moron -- why don't you go cabk that F**KING orifice of thy mum where the sun don't shine?

Songkok is not a Malayu headgear. Original Melayu headgear is Tengkolok. Songkok is being worn in Indonesia, India, Turkey, Pakistan, Nepal,China and numerous other countries in the world regardless of race or religion. DAP should be allowed to wear 'SERBAN' like PAS.

Again, we fall to the MSM/ BN's trick in picking up small issues to melaga lagakan.

Why is the newspaper so prejudiced? Like RPK said, if Malay ( for example , PAS) said that they do not want songkok vs kopiah, it would be a political statement. If chinese, it will be racism and probably against agong etc. bla bla.

this is a petty issue. of course MSM would find anything to stir up multi racial issue into supporting umno-bn.if umno-bn do right things right, most probably all these petty problems would not surfaced.

DAP don't be dumb la. It is a symbol plus a dress code and it is not like the tudung which is more religious thing and on top of that we live in Malaysia. Wear the songkok or next election, I'll not vote for you!!!

There has never been any consensus on a National Dress Code since or before Independence (1957; none that I am aware of, and unlike a famous PM, I have not been asleep all this time!

This problem about the songkok has to do with what the powers-that-be want to foist on all M'sians and whether they have any other agenda in mind.

An inkling of it can be found in the only officially approved Malay Dictionaries used in our schools for the past 20-30 years.

A 'songkok' is defined as a headgear worn by a male Muslim! If you don't belief it, go take a look at your child's school Kamus.

Even a dress code must pass the test of reasonableness. If there is any ambivalence as to its links with a particular religion, then it should be shelved for the dress code at the State Assembly.

Whether Nehru wore a songkok-like headgear, and what the origins of the songkok were, have no relevance to the issue. I can't agree with you Rocky that Malay culture is equivalent to M'sian culture, when in the first place 'Malay Culture' is not defined even in our Constitution.

Ultimately, it is matter of individual choice, whatever the Sultan of Johor might desire.

The era of 'so it is written, so it shall be done' was rejected by humanity several thousand years ago!

-----------------------------------I thought all Malaysian has a choice or is it a just a sweet talk only?-----------------------------------

If songkok is indeed a head-gear only, then is it compulsary to wear it? If it is stated in the regulation, then no choice lar.

Wearing songkok is just like eating curry. Some people just dislike eating curry, then why must force him? Does he needs to eat curry just to show respect to the host eventhough he doesnt like? If he frankly tells the host he doesnt eat curry, does the host will get offended?

A lot of your commentators don't realise that the wearing of the songkok is not because they have to attend the dewan, or because its part of the uniform (in fact, you CAN wear a uniform with military headgear), but because the Sultan is present.

It is traditional, and respectful, to wear the songkok when having an audience or meeting the sultan. On any occasion. Period.

Perhaps the DAP needs to be reminded that the Sultan is the Head of State, and deserving of our love, respect, loyalty and sacrifice. Or have they forgotten the Constitution since winning some seats in GE12.

If there is a Sikh Assemblyman, will he be required to wear a songkok on top of his turban?

Or remove his turban and wear a songkok?

Come to think of it, is wearing a "traditional and cultural" songkok together with a western style suit appropriate? Since when?

I always thought songkoks are more appropriately worn with the appropriate bajus.

Is wearing a cowboy hat with a formal suit appropriate dress in say New York? I know the Naked Cowboy there (no relative of mine) wears it but then he, well...you know.. wants to show off his stuff.

Coming back to Johor (minus Batu Puteh), if the DAP Assemblymen don't wear the songkok, will the Sultan slap them as his ancestors did? Will the Speaker refuse to let them into the Dewan as he said he would?

Thank you for visiting my blog. I admit I was emotional when I just typed when came out from my heart yesterday.

I mean, the whole country is bracing the higher fuel prices. AlL of us are affected. The PM and his whole team are trying their best and we are sure that they too dont want and they wont like to get cursed at. IF they can, they would give free petrol..

Most of us, Many quarters and professionals are giving their ideas to solve or get some sort of formula for ALL OF US, to cope with in this trying moments and to make thing worse, the world oil price increases everyday because Israel opened their mouths and said they might attack Iran.

I was even thinking of writing to the Letters of the Editor giving my opinion that maybe the BN Government should give some sort of incentives for those cars users who might want to switch to NGV, Natural Gas Vehicles.The installation charges is quite steep and with the government help many many be interested to change for petrol to NGV.

Suddenly, I read about this very petty thing of to wear or not to wear the Songkok!!

Whats the big deal? Really Rocky, whats the big deal?

Why are they like babies, crying out to their elders "Ah..what to do ah.want to put on the songkok or not.. ma?"

Just imagine, IF a representative of the rakyat CANNOT even decide on a small petty matter like this HOW on EARTH are they going to represent the rakyat and be a leader to the rakyat??

Songkok = Malay = MuslimThat's the problem when you politicise religion. DAP refused to wear the songkok when they were not in the position of power. DAP never dreamt that they can become the government that lead them into this issue. Malaysia should practise like Thailand where religion was never a made into a political tool.It's just a songkok and wearing one will not convert you automatically into Muslim. It's how you perform as ADUN that counts. Please show respect to the Sultan.... I would as a responsible Chinese Malaysian.

Say only against Ketuanan Melayu wahatever. This on the other had is a clear case of Chinese Supremacy lorr. Shy leh me as chinese guy read this. I wear songkok and baju melayu full set some more when i go for my malay fren weding all. So difficult meh? No big deal also?

You know bro , this is one of the reasonS that i could never understand how Hamidi is a life member of DAP. Its typical Cina Kwai attitude and aptitude.They dont get the Malaysian Issue walau pun shouting for a malaysian malaysia.Most Malaysians gave theM a chance on the GE8 and the Cina bukit arrogance and ignorance is still there . NIAMAHHHHH !

Who cares if one wares Songkok for official functions.... what we need is a "good head."

Stop wasting time deliberating on silly issues like Head Gears, we have more pressing issues ie How to mitigate the current fuel hike and how to resolve raising prices that effecting the Rakyat.

I sometime feel we have unsuitable MPs and MLAs representing The Rakyat. Its always about race and religious matters beeing debated.

Waste of energy and parliments time..... seriously please attend to the grave situation we all are about to experience ie multiple social problems ie food, robbery etc etc etc which i force see in the next 6 months.

My coffee lady was speechless when i asked her - apa macam minyak naik, she said - banyak susah, orang sudah naikkan harga sayur, ikan, tak tahu macam mana mau hidup, she cleans my office while having a full time job in another company.

Its so easy to stir up the malays...........the chinese these and chinese that, not respect malay, blah, blah....

for more than fifty year, ask yourself, what has the government done? why the people are still so divided?

what happen to the muhibbah project and see what happen to the national service.....one cannot find any success and the so called sincerity?......chinese's fault?

if the chinese are corrupt, the government should educate them.... but if the immigration officers are corrupt.......don't blame the chinese....these officers study law before they become officers!!!!

all the hates here proved one thing to me though.......even if you are borned religious, it is not necessary that you will be kind auotmatically, one still need education...from the government, a sincere one, not one with agenda.....like filling the police stations with almost one of a kind and resulted in so much injustice and discrimination.

for a change.....if the malays are kia-su, make 100% one kind army but you really need to have a multi racial police team, its social....not just for balance, its common sense...... we learn to understand each others' problem, its community.

I, not a police, was once asked to be a translator by the police to speak to some chinese nationals... no chinese police in a station.

hai....go see singapore, so many malay police and of of cause, there are chinese police too and indian too......the chinese don't like to be police?

and do you know how others feel when they are people die in the police station? or women detained in the police station?.... its a better question than quarrel over "dress code"

back to dress code....hello, please make sure everybody likes it first.....not simply send to a malay tailor and then blame other as anti unity.

look at your ownself, understand others before you crown them with accusations.

please..........please, are we malaysian? me no chinesian but malaysian.

the songkok is a malay items like sarong, like it, take it, don't like it......just respect it.

please no hard feelings, me just feel so unfair, there's no justice here.

Hi Rocky - I hope you are not trying to stir up racial sentiments by provocatively blogging only one side of the story. I hope you, as a journalist with ethics, can also present the other side of the story.

The reason why many Chinese object to the songkok is because, right or wrong, Chinese perceive the songkok to have been Islamicized by the Malays so they associate the songkok with Islam. That is why they, as non-Muslims, do not want to wear the songkok and that is also why they gladly wear batik and eat nasi lemak and keropok lekor and don't mind staying in kampung style chalets. These other elements of Malay culture are not perceived to be associated with Islam.

For the songkok to become part of the Malaysian dress, it cannot be associated with just one race or religion otherwise, it will not gain widespread acceptance.

Kepada yang cuba berdalih,"STARLITE " accusing us while discussing, as stirring up racial sentiments ~ my answer is WTF.(why?) YOUR guys brought up the stupid issue, while the majority of us think we should look forward to live happily (by giving out as much as possible to please you, and thanks God now that we certainly realized that it will never be enough) DECIDED,we MUST put a stop on it, PERIOD.

it is part of the "ketuanan" racist mentality and aparthied-driven superiority of some so-called "bumiputera Melayus" to superimpose their racial chauvinism on to others.

if it was not so, non-chauvinistic Malays will stand up against such racial and cultural posturings.

imagine the hullabullo and outcry from the umno youth jihadists and their sympathesizers if the Chinese or Malays were to state that all official functions should represent the equal depiction of authentic cultural and ethnic attire of Malaysians.

would parliment tolerate the kadazan headgear, the chinese cheongsam or the Indian cultural attire for so-called official functions? why was there such an outcry over a Kadazan headgear and the accusation that it looked like a cross? where we all the so-called malay harmony and nationalism proponents then.

were their mouths sealed with sticky ketupat or was it simply a cases of my Melayu songkok is more superior than any of you "second-class" non-Melayu kafirs?

it is no secret that non-Malays have been at the receiving end of some of the most dastardly comments against their cultural practices and costumes and to their religious faiths.

if the magnititude of these vicious malice-driven verbal assaults were made against the Malays or muslims with equally venom i can gurantee that the jihad boys of umno would have executed them. and so we witness this sandiwara of so-called cultural revisionism and hegemony.

the issue is about respect. if Malays respect the cultural identity of other races in this country, they would not make such racist demands. it is a blatant act of ethnic superiority and such attacks has been condoned in the name of harmony and nationalism.

those who insist that songkok wearing has nothing to do with Malay culture or islam is both intellectually and morally dishonest. i suggest a quick education on why Malays adopted the songkok as part of their attire in the first place.

it is convenient to fool some of the people some of the time, but it takes a habitual liar to propagate deceit and cultural revisionism on a national scale.

as i have stated before, it is a blatant attack on the soverignity of one's race, culture and religous beliefs to insist that they wear attire that is intriscally part of another culture, ethnicity and religion.

after fifty years of independence, it is time to speak the truth without manufacturing convenient "taquiah".

Just look at the sheer hatred for the Chinese exhibited here just because of a songkok or is it really an issue about the songkok in the first place ?

Just because some DAP members do not want to wear the songkok, the whole DAP is branded as un-Malaysian, to balik China and all sorts. Best of all, some even accuse the DAP of being racist. If this is not ironical, I do not know what is ? Please lah, tepuk dada, tanya selera.

By now, some of you cannot stand the sight of TDM. But I have yet to hear anyone suggesting he should balik Kerala.

UMNO has ruled Malaysia since independence and with the exception of 1969, has not lost any state to the opposition with the exception of Kelantan, but that is different because it is PAS and they are Muslim. Now, some of you expect the DAP to come out with better solutions than UMNO when they have just taken over Penang ? Even when they have more MPs than the other parties, they cannot be the chief minister anywhere else except Penang. Please lah, how many of you even voted for DAP in the first place ? You would not vote DAP even if your live's depended on it. You would rather vote UMNO.

You feel UMNO has not done enough for you so you voted PKR. Since you hate DAP so much, please ask DSAI to stop working with DAP and ask him how he will form the next government ? I shudder to think who you would vote, once you get disenchanted with DSAI.

Please ask yourself why you do not like UMNO now. Even TDM with all his patriotism cannot achieve the objectives of NEP in the 22 years in office. How many of you have benefited from NEP ? I for one support the NEP but not when it is abused to the current stage and only benefit the few chosen ones and there is no trickle down effect. Even a former Singaporean Malay is better off than a Malaysian Chinese for he can own a big bank. But it is okay, he is a Malay and a Muslim so not issues there.

If you yourselves do not care how NEP is being carried out and are happy to let UMNO abuse the system for their own benefit, then you deserve UMNO.

There is only so much that you can bite the cherry before it is finished. There really is no free lunch. The Chinese are made to realise this and reminded time and again. But its ok, we will survive. After all, we are constantly asked to go back to China when you find any issues with us. No one owes us a living since we are not Malays and most of all not Muslims.

RPK, you are so wrong, where is the compassion Muslims are supposed to have for the other races without regard to colour of their skin or their believes ? Maybe many of you are Malays first then Muslims.

Rocky!I have been speechless since this news was posted!Why are we all "Non Malays" wearing batik?Why are we all "Non Malays" wearing shirts & trousers & shoes?Tis all not Chinese, Indian ,Mah!!?Pakai lah sarong , & seluar macam dari China atau India!PLEASE for Godsake, its simply a ceremonial headgear for a ceremony!And all those who get yr Datukships etc - do not wear anything "Malay"!!!There was a chief judge many years ago, who stopped the use of "horse hair wigs" by "Barristers & Judges" in Court.These"wigs" very very English, are expensive, have to be purchased from London,very uncomfortable & of no use at all! That is / was being sensible & proper!But the "CEREMONIAL" songkok! Does it make me less of the person that I am/born as? Certainly not!Besides, I am occupying an office!And those who protested/objected, wear a suit instead - its very Western,very expensive & very uncomfortable & many of u will look quite funny in them!

Whyla make this an issue? Thats the problem when the ruling government lose election badly, find every single possibility to attack the opposition at all cost even if it bring the economy and racial harmony down. all for the sake of political gains and image.

My friend Kuthubudeen says he does not wear the songkok because it is a Hindu headgear.

Yes, Hindu, he insists, so it is not appropriate for him. It is not Javanese nor Indonesian but influence from old Hindu culture and religion. Go to Bali to see, he says. He cannot fathom why Malays who are Muslims are following Hindu culture.

More appropriate to wear the skull cap like the Jews. That is the right headgear, he says.

Monsterball, it is very wrong and mischievous of you to insult the Jews by saying that their religious tradition sucks! What do you know of the Jews? You are simply one ignoramus like they say shoot from your arse instead of your mouth! The rest of your long comment is nothing but rubbish, rubbish, rubbish! Don't take up valuable space in rocky's much logged on to blog with your nonsense!

actually it's good to have debate like this, but only in a sensible way, do malaysian know where we all stand....like what the chinese should do (in civilized way) to make this country smile if it is all chinese’s faults.

It is clear that majority malays, be they professors or pengamoks, they simply dislike chinese and hated them very much....but for what? anybody know why? singapore doing better than malaysia? too many chinese shops, too many towkays? control petronas? control banks? chinese communists? they kill malays, they cheat them? stole all their money and women?

i think and re-think.... all those action seems more the other way round...., I deduced it as just plain jealousy, nothing else. what say you?

not wearing songkok is anti malay, anti negara? so wearing songkok is the solution, all the hatreds will go away, so simple?

even the chinese behave 99% like malays, embrace islam, eat curi everyday, the malays will still hate chinese......period.

should we all wait for durians to drop and ask the foreign workers to pick them up and tuck them into our mouths, no need to move.... well then....don't expect the chinese to contribute 90% of the taxes like raja petra said in his blog.

in order for the malays not to hate the chinese, a sincere government is required.... to educate, yes, to EDUCATE!

the chinese don't care who become the prime minister as long as he can rule well, be him melayu, kadazan, negritos.... even an indian..... no chinese, is ok.

as far as i am concerned, chinese came to malaya long before we have any sultan, to do businesses and contributed their sweat and blood to this land, in different form and through history became what it is today MALAYSIA.

so i challenge all the malaysian malays (not indonesian malays, filipino malays or south african malays but true malaysian malays), for the good of malaysia to state how or what malaysian chinese should do in order to make the malaysian malays feel at ease with them....jangan simpan hati...tiba tiba jerik BAB……I

stop from stopping us to move forward but move forward together to make this nation GREAT……..not becoming a pariah state where we all suffer and perish together.

actually it's good to have debate like this, but only in a sensible way, do malaysian know where we all stand....like what the chinese should do (in civilized way) to make this country smile if it is all chinese’s faults.

It is clear that majority malays, be they professors or pengamoks, they simply dislike chinese and hated them very much....but for what? anybody know why? singapore doing better than malaysia? too many chinese shops, too many towkays? control petronas? control banks? chinese communists? they kill malays, they cheat them? stole all their money and women?

i think and re-think.... all those action seems more the other way round...., I deduced it as just plain jealousy, nothing else. what say you?

not wearing songkok is anti malay, anti negara? so wearing songkok is the solution, all the hatreds will go away, so simple?

even the chinese behave 99% like malays, embrace islam, eat curi everyday, the malays will still hate chinese......period.

should we all wait for durians to drop and ask the foreign workers to pick them up and tuck them into our mouths, no need to move.... well then....don't expect the chinese to contribute 90% of the taxes like raja petra said in his blog.

in order for the malays not to hate the chinese, a sincere government is required.... to educate, yes, to EDUCATE!

the chinese don't care who become the prime minister as long as he can rule well, be him melayu, kadazan, negritos.... even an indian..... no chinese, is ok.

as far as i am concerned, chinese came to malaya long before we have any sultan, to do businesses and contributed their sweat and blood to this land, in different form and through history became what it is today MALAYSIA.

so i challenge all the malaysian malays (not indonesian malays, filipino malays or south african malays but true malaysian malays), for the good of malaysia to state how or what malaysian chinese should do in order to make the malaysian malays feel at ease with them....jangan simpan hati...tiba tiba jerik BAB……I

stop from stopping us to move forward but move forward together to make this nation GREAT……..not becoming a pariah state where we all suffer and perish together.